Royal Boskalis Westminster has been awarded three dredging-related contracts on the African subcontinent with a combined value of approximately 75 million euros.

In Angola, Boskalis has been awarded a contract by Angola LNG Ltd. for dredging activities related to maintaining the access channel and turning basins of the Soyo LNG port. The project will be executed in joint venture and involves the removal of approximately 11 million cubic metres of sand and silt by medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredgers.

Work is set to commence in the third quarter of 2015 and will be completed by the end of 2017. Boskalis also executed the initial capital dredging and reclamation works for this LNG port on behalf of Angola LNG Ltd. from early 2007 until mid-2009.

Iron Ore Terminal in Gabon

For the construction of an iron ore terminal in the Gabonese port of Libreville, Boskalis has been awarded a contract by Gabon Special Economic Zone Mineral PORT S.A. for reclamation works and capital dredging. Boskalis will reclaim 45 hectares of land for the terminal and dredge a berthing area for bulk carriers. For this project a total volume of 3.2 million cubic metres of sand and silt will be dredged using medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredgers.

The project is due to commence in the third quarter of 2015 with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Dredging the Casamance River

The third contract, with Agence Nationale des Affaires Maritimes in Senegal, is for maintenance dredging in the Casamance river. This river serves as a fairway for vessels destined for the city of Zinguichor. Over a length of 65 kilometres a medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredger will remove a total of 1.5 million cubic metres of sand.

This project will commence in July 2015 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Picture: One of Boskalis' trailing suction hopper dredgers, the Crestway (by Boskalis).